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Summer Feet

05 January 2017

Prepare Your Feet for Summer

It is the season of sandals and open toes – meaning you need your feet to look as good as the shoes you’re wearing. If you’ve barely been out of boots during the colder months, don’t despair, it’s easy to get your tootsies back on track.

Scrub up
Start the renovation process with the use of a foot file or pumice. This will remove the dead skin cells to reveal the younger, softer skin underneath. Soak feet in warm water first to soften, then towel dry before getting to work on the rough patches. You may need to repeat this process over several days for really good results.

Maintain
To keep feet soft, regular exfoliation is important. You don’t need to spend lots of money on expensive products, mix coarse sugar or salt granules with oil for a quick, easy DIY exfoliator. Massage into your feet in circular motions, focusing particularly on areas prone to dryness – such as the heels.

Heal cracks
If your feet are really dry, there are a couple of products that will make a big difference. Urea, a chemical compound found in urine but which can be made artificially, is ideal for extremely dry and cracked skin. Look for a cream that contains at least 10 per cent urea. Myrrh, an anti-bacterial essential oil, has been used for centuries as a skin-healer and is ideal to treat cracked heels naturally. Simply add a few drops to your foot bath, or mix with your usual moisturiser before applying.

Hydrate
The skin on your feet has no oil glands, meaning it really needs a helping hand. Glycerine, also referred to as glycerol, is a humectant that increases the amount of water in the surface layers of the skin and is used to soften, smooth and hydrate. Go for a foot cream which contains it – or make your own by buying glycerol from your local pharmacy and mixing it in equal parts with lemon juice. Apply to your feet and leave for 20 minutes before rinsing.

Nail your nails
The crowning glory on any foot is perfectly painted toe nails. Start by soaking feet to soften the nails; if they are slightly yellow add lemon juice to your soak as it is a natural bleach. Next, clip the nail straight across, avoiding cutting into the corners or going too short, as this can cause ingrowing. Now use a nail file to soften the shape. When it comes to polish, use a base coat to prevent yellowing, and a top coat to help the colour last.